Does it matter where you go if you already have connections?

Career Opportunities & Internships Investment Banking
1

<p>I'm an incoming freshman to UCLA next year, and I want to go into I-Banking. I know UCLA is not much of a target school when it comes from I-Banking (I heard its more popular with the Big 4 and whatnot), so I'm not expecting to get many offers regardless of how I do in LA. </p>

<p>However, I have already established many connections with people in the industry. I look to be working in Japan but my dad works for a hedge fund firm in Connecticut, and I know the manager of it very well already and am on very good terms with him. Also, my dad's very good friend is one of the top top people at Goldman Sachs Japan, and at a recent dinner with him, he basically guaranteed me an internship starting from my sophomore year.</p>

<p>Will the fact that I went to UCLA over somewhere like Berkeley or Cornell (I felt that the undergrad experience at UCLA would be more enjoyable) hurt me in anyways in the future regardless of the fact that I got internships already?</p>

2

<p>Not at all. It sounds like you’ve got it made in the shade with lemonade.</p>

3

<p>Well, another thing I’d like to ask is…
I got w’listed at UMich LSA (Econ) and NYU(kinda strange… but whatever). I do realize, that on wall-street, they are recruited for IBanking, but would it benefit me at all if I were accepted and went to these schools over UCLA in my position?</p>

4

<p>How do you get into Cornell but not Mich?</p>

5

<p>I applied late to UMich, also, I had a life changing injury that I’m guessing UMich overlooked, especially because they apparently don’t put much emphasis in essays. </p>

<p>I got into Cornell because I had 3 interviews with them, each of them very successful, and was able to explain my situation in person. I also applied for the school of Hotel Management and was accepted there because I have tons and tons of work experience and I guess they felt I was a good fit there.</p>

<p>If you need further explanation about UCLA/UCB, I got in through appeals, I had to give them supplementary information about my injury and how it affected me, sent medical proof, etc.</p>

<p>Stat wise I’m not a very strong applicant, but the other things such as extracurriculars and experiences are above average :D</p>

6

<p>Going to “better” Universities INCREASES your chances of success in the future. If you already have connections, and you are content with em, I’m not sure why you’re even asking…haha…</p>